Figure: Launch of the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. Photo: NIN,Hyderabad

The Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) – 2017 was recently released by the Government of India. The publication contains data on 586 varieties of Indian food and their nutritive values. This is the first expansive and comprehensive food composition data to be released since 1971 with its own complete food composition database.

The IFCT serves as a handbook that will be just as relevant to the general public in making dietary choices as it will be for dieticians, medical and health professionals and students of nutrition. It forms a basis for developing dietary guidelines, framing of food regulations and food safety mechanisms and consumer education. The food industry can capitalize on this data for labeling and product development. The IFCT also has the potential to guide planning of institutional diets, sports nutrition and the food service industry.

“This will also be translated to something usable and helpful to the common person, as a mobile app, which will be ready in a couple of months,” said Mr JP Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2011, initiated the Indian national food sampling and analysis program to develop a new and authoritative source of food composition data in India. Key foods were prioritized and analyzed for a comprehensive set of nutrients at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad.

Dr Longvah, Director, National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad said, “The new database covers more than 150 nutrients, many more than covered before including anti-nutrients and contaminants. The methodology took nearly two years to develop and the sampling was also extensive covering six well dispersed agro-ecological regions.” This database will be very useful for taking decisions to overcome health concerns in India. As explained by Dr T Longvah, in India, malnutrition in children had been decreasing until 1997. However, since then it has stagnated at 43%. Diabetes is increasing currently reaching 6% and 23% of the population suffers from hypertension.

“We have more than 1,100 crops being cultivated in India and we need to have the nutritional value of each variety. Soil type, weather and many other factors affect their nutritional value. Agricultural systems contribute to nutritional security and science backed solutions are critical to address the needs,” said Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Board Member, ICRISAT.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, ICMR, indicated that the database gives a better idea of what the average Indian is eating and will help in tackling the issue of hidden hunger.

See more: http://www.icrisat.org/india-releases-the-worlds-most-advanced-and-comprehensive-analytical-data-base-of-national-food-nutritional-composition/